Making Aore Resort our home base for adventures on Santo was such a good idea. Their mooring balls are protected from the prevailing south east wind and swell - definitely not the case at the anchorage across the strait at Luganville (Santo's main town) which is subject to an annoying swell. Off Aore, we could sleep without setting the anchor alarm and enjoy breakfast without our coffee cups sliding across the table.
The resort's water taxi ferried us into town, which was really convenient. It was nice not having to worry about leaving our dinghy unattended at a downtown dock while we were off exploring. While the coral wasn't impressive, the snorkeling right off the beach at the resort was actually quite good. So was the restaurant. And staff even offered to coordinate our activities for us, so all we had to do was hop off the water taxi at the dock in Luganville and straight into the tour company's van, which took us on some great adventures.

One of the most amazing adventures we've had to date was the Millenium Cave Tour, which was quite simply - out of this world. Seriously. We felt like we'd been transported into a tropical version of Raisers of the Last Arc. We had a guide to ourselves because of the way our booking worked through the resort's preferred tour company. I had my very own Melanesian version of Harrison Ford to hold my hand through the scary parts!

We began on narrow footpath that led us to a makeshift bridge fashioned out of giant bamboo poles stacked and laid out horizontally to span a 30 foot gap between 2 steep cliffs (lets just say this would never pass safety standards at home!). Further down the path we were scrambling over and around boulders the size of cars, and climbing down moss covered vertical rock faces on ladders. Eventually, we found ourselves at the base of a narrow, hidden canyon with a stream that ran into a massive cave.
Our guide gave us flashlights and led the way as he waded through the water, which grew deeper and deeper, and darker and darker, until it was completely pitch black. All we could hear was the stream and thousands of bats. We shone our flashlights into the water to try and judge the shape and size the rocks beneath the surface, as the water was waist deep in parts. We basically had to feel our way up, around and between them, following the dot of illumination from our guide's flashlight ahead of us. We occasionally shone our lights upwards out of curiosity, to find that the cave ceiling was completely covered in bats. Eventually, a vertical strip of light appeared in the distance, and we found ourselves emerging out the other end. Our stream joined up with another, merging into a much wider one.
After a brief rest and snack at the water's edge we waded back into the water and down the stream which deepened significantly, requiring us to swim. As we swam along, admiring the steep, grooved canyon walls around us, it dawned on me that before our adventure ended, we would have to climb up and out of the canyon! I wondered how many people sign up for this guided eco tour without realizing how strenuous it is. It certainly wouldn't be a good choice for people who aren't in relatively good shape, can't swim, have claustrophobia, or are fearful of bats or heights. No siree!
Fortunately, we had complete faith in our guide (was there any other option?). And when he finally waded to the stream's edge and led us towards a cliff with a trickling waterfall, I wondered what could possibly be in store for us next.
We were at the bottom of a canyon and the only way out was up! And parts of it were straight up. Using a series of ropes to climb parts that would qualify as small waterfalls and ladders for the even steeper parts we weaved our way slowly upwards towards the ridge of the abyss. What relief to finally come to a horizontal path, albeit through the dense jungle, back to the village!

Neither of us will ever forget this adventure. And the incredible beautify of this hidden paradise made the challenge (and scary bits!) worthwhile